How to cut an avocado

A step-by-step guide on preparing an avocado successfully, how to test for ripeness, and 5 of our favourite avo-based recipes.

As the popularity of avocados seems only set to soar higher, we reveal how to cut and slice this deliciously creamy fruit in a safe and straightforward way, as well as giving you tips on how to test for ripeness.

How to cut an avocado

1. Slice it all the way around

Lay your avocado on its side on your board. Hold your knife in one hand and the avocado steady with the other, ideally in a bridge position so that your fingers will be well away from the blade. Carefully start to slice the avocado through the middle lengthways. In the centre of the thickest part of the avocado you’ll find that your blade hits the stone and will not cut through it. Keeping your knife in the fruit, start to slowly turn the avocado over so that the blade can run around the stone, cutting all the way around the skin in a line that joins up with where you started.

2. Twist

Put the knife down and pick up the avocado with both hands. With the long incision in the middle, turn the avocado away from you with one hand and towards you with the other at the same time. This will twist the flesh away from the stone and the avocado should come apart in two pieces.

3. Remove the stone

One of the pieces will still contain the stone. The safest way to remove this is to prise it out gently with a teaspoon. Run the spoon around and under the stone until it pops out.

4. Peel

To remove the skin, you can either peel it off with your fingers or use a dessertspoon to scoop out the flesh – run the spoon all the way around, as close to the skin as you can, so that the flesh comes out in one piece.

5. Slice

Lay the avocado flesh on your board, flat side down, and slice, chop or cut it into wedges. Spritz with a little lemon or lime juice to stop them from discolouring if you’re not going to serve it immediately.

How to tell if an avocado is ripe

Hass avocados have green skin that turns a very dark purple when ripe. Other varieties such as Pinkerton will be a lighter colour, and the Fuerte avocado skin is green even when fully ripe.

To check for ripeness on any avocado, pick it up – it should feel heavy for its size. Give it a gentle squeeze – it should have a little bit of give in it but shouldn’t be squishy. If it feels very soft then it’s either overripe or badly bruised.

Another good test for ripeness is to look at the top of the avocado where the fruit would have been connected to the tree. There should be a short round piece of stem, similar to what you’ll find at one end of an orange. Gently try and pull this out with your fingers or thumbnail. If it doesn’t pop out easily, the avocado is unripe and should be left to ripen for a day or two before testing again. If it pops out with very little effort and you can see a light green patch underneath, then the fruit is likely to be ripe and ready to use.

Be the first to ask a question about this recipe...Unsure about the cooking time or want to swap an ingredient? Ask us your questions and we’ll try and help you as soon as possible. Or if you want to offer a solution to another user’s question, feel free to get involved...

Save on Christmas gifts at Travelzoo

Skills & know how

As well as helping you decide what to cook we can also help you to cook it. From tips on cookery techniques to facts and information about health and nutrition, we’ve a wealth of foodie know how for you to explore.

About BBC Good Food

We are the UK’s number one food brand. Whether you’re looking for healthy recipes and guides, family projects and meal plans, the latest gadget reviews, foodie travel inspiration or just the perfect recipe for dinner tonight, we’re here to help.

Our recipes

All our recipes are tested thoroughly by us to make sure they’re suitable for your kitchen at home. We know many of you are concerned about healthy eating, so we send them to a qualified nutritionist for thorough analysis too.